Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-12-22
AIDS FOR THE cRIPfLep.
The, Use Of Artificial Limbs More Co.
eral Than Most People Imagine.

The, Use Of Artificial Limbs more GsS
erai Than Most People Imagine.
Very few people have any idea Of how
wide is the presence of artificial limbs
legs more especially. Arms and handA.
which trace their origin TO art rstho
than nature, are sufficiently conspicuous:
with legs il is different. An artificial
hand will pass muster with the casual
observer. but its existence cannot be con-
cealed from persons who are at all inti-
mate with its owner. On the other hand,
q man or woman may go about with the
help Of manufactured leg, and all thas
their acquaintances will think is that
they are slightly lame, such is the per-
fection to which the making of these use-
full helps to mankind has been brought.
A man can walk with an artificial leg
almost as well rs il he had never lost ono
Of those with which nature provided him:
he can sit naturally, and rise without ap-
parent effort; all that is necessary b 10
get the limb from good maker, and 10
practice in use diligently. There is moth
ing new about artificial limbs. The an
clients made use Of them, and attempted
something more ambitious than mere
stumps. Il IL only Of recent years, hov-
ever, that legs and arms have been turned
out with really artistic skill The con-
struction Of the best limbs Is en-
tremely simple: there is none q
the complicated machinery which some
wears ago was introduced into these
articles with view to rendering than
less conspicuous, but with the result that
there was, almost invariably, o rattling
noise that gave due notice Of the approach
Of a game leg. And this continual notp
was not the only disadvantage sttaching
to these elaborate pieces Of machinery.
They were, as was only nasural, con-
stantly out Of order. and their behavior
could never be relied upon, Though they
might be trusted not to carry their luck
less owners all over the world ct whirl.
wind speed, in the fashion treated a n
the old ballad. they were very apt 70 @
wrong at critical moments, and cover
with confusion the persons whom they
were supposed to assist. -f
Such unpleasant situations newer now
adays occur with q well modelled apl
skillfuly designed false leg. Springs are
the only machinery used in its constrnc-
t.cn, and they are Of = simple descrip-
ton. Legs are made Of various matsriak.
but the best Of all ID willow, and in tAb
country II has been found that the willow
trees which grow along the hanks Of he
Kennel give wood that ID superior 10 ~
others for this purpose. Leather, papisr-
mache, German silver and corrugatsd
iron have all been given n trial. but nnAs
OF them do - well - good willow weo6.
Cork, which b associated with As>ieGlnl
legs In the minds Of most people, b q -
use whatever. A good limb = ooay
thing, but IL ~eau well, provided thae ,
is properly cared for. rsrsus who O.
afford ii have . couple exscly aliks, and
once o year they make . chsnP -
md the one they have besn wssring ~
the Last twelve nouths TO the mnA<
who ovsrhsab u and eEccutss ~
ui6ing rsp.irs that may bs nssennyl
by foilowfne thb oourss. . pair g -
~ nay - mads 10 IL . hsol9A-
London e1andsrd